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NEWS
Cutting-edge Chinese caravan coming
Mars Campers to release first off-road, pop-top caravan in mid-2017 from $35,000Yet another Chinese camper trailer importer is about to enter the off-road caravan market, with Mars Campers set to add a 13ft hybrid off-road pop-top camper to its range of popular, budget-priced camper trailers.
While entering an increasingly crowded hard-walled, hybrid camper market, the Mars Ares pop-top has a few interesting features designed to make it stand out, including a curved pop-top roof that when raised delivers close to 3.0m of headroom inside.
The prototype’s interior is dominated by a huge, 10-seat club lounge/dinette that converts to a king-sized bed, with a bench top and shelving at the rear, but there will be other layouts available including a fixed double bed with smaller dinette, as well as the option of an internal combination shower/toilet.
Mars Campers’ national sales manager, Celso Prado said the unique interior borrows design elements from the boating and aerospace industries “in order to deliver a van that is small on the outside but big on the inside”.
Family versions will also feature a two-berth ‘trampoline’ loft bed, that will be suspended above the dinette and is similar in design to floating, tree-tents currently available. Also breaking convention will be a curved, cabana-style awning, similar in design to trendy beach shelters.
The prototype is fitted with off-road features including an independent trailing arm coil suspension and DO35 off-road hitch, along with a hot water unit, 12V battery system, TV, 9kg gas bottle and 130 litre fresh water storage.
To keep tare weight down to around 1200kg (with an ATM of 2000kg), the walls and roof are constructed with an aluminium frame and composite panels. Overall length is 5.35m, with the body measures 3.9m long by 2.0m wide.
Based on feedback and 10,000km of real-world testing, production versions will have a number of changes including a bigger, slide-out external kitchen with removable wind shields attached by magnets, fabric covers for the open internal shelving and gull-wing doors for the front toolbox.
Pricing is expected to be sharp, starting around $35,000 with off-road independent suspension and an internal shower/toilet among the options available.
Although the Ares 1 prototype was designed and built in Australia, the final production versions due to arrive in May will be built at Mars’ production facility in China.
The Ares pop-top is Mars’ second attempt at a hard-walled hybrid camper, after unveiling a Mars One prototype in 2015 that was built in Melbourne by On The Move Caravans.
Other Ares models are also planned, including a larger 19ft ensuite version with more conventional ‘grey nomad’ layout.
The company also recently boosted its range with the addition of a new, imported teardrop camper that will be priced around $20,000.
In business for 11 years, Mars Campers sells around 1500 hard and soft-floor campers annually through 27 outlets located around the country.
When the Ares pop-top goes on sale, Mars will join other big-selling Chinese camper trailer brands in Australia with new caravan models, including GIC/Black Series, MDC and EzyTrail.
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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